Monday 1st January 2007

The day looked quite promising when we set off with blue sky, sunshine and no wind in the valleys. We had expected the car park to be quite full when we got there but the previous night's celebrations meant it was very quiet so we had the rare experience of walking along a deserted Monsal Trail. Just like the last time we walked in this area the rain (and sleet) started when we got to Tideswell Dale and never let up until we got back to the car park. 

Start: Monsal Head car park (SK 1851 7150)

Route: Monsal Head car park - Monsal Trail - Water-cum-Jolly - Cressbrook Dale - Tansley Dale - Litton Dale - Tideswell 
            Dale - Litton Mill - Brushfield - Monsal Trail - Monsal Head car park

Distance: 8.75 miles     Ascent: 550 metres     Time Taken: 4 hours 35 minutes

Weather: Bright and sunny to start heavy rain by the end of the walk.

Pub visited: Stables Bar, Monsal Head     Ale Drunk: Monsal Bitter, Lloyds Brewery

Upperdale, from Monsal Head.

Monsal Dale and Monsal Viaduct, from Monsal Head.

Monsal Dale from the viaduct.

Cressbrook Mills.

Monsal Head from the Monsal Trail.

The weir at Water-cum-Jolly.

Cressbrook Dale.

The stepping stones used to access Tansley Dale from Cressbrook Dale.

Cressbrook Dale, from the stepping stones.

Cressbrook Dale from the start of Tansley Dale.

Looking back down Tansley Dale.

Eyam Edge seen from the top of Tansley Dale. 

Zooming in on Eyam Edge and the mast that acts as a marker for Sir William Hill.

Tideswell Dale. Just after I took this picture the rain came and the views disappeared.